Year of the Snake! Happy Chinese New Year!

Its the New Moon, Year of the Snake; Happy Chinese New Year and Mardi Gras is going on in New Orleans!  Whew, its seems like the whole world has a reason to party today!  And boy am I glad of another opportunity to began again.

Its nice of Mother Nature to give us the opportunity to begin again with each New Moon.  Even though the skies are dark, we await Her first silver crescent with great anticipation.  We know She's coming back.  A fresh new cycle has begun.

The Chinese celebrate the "Spring Festival" from the New Moon to the Full Moon, a full 15 days of celebrating.  How nice of our Chinese brothers and sisters to keep the lunar cycle!  Its awesome to know that somewhere in the world, there are billions of people who follow the lunar cycle in addition to us Pagans, Earth Worshippers and Witches here in the West. 

I pray that this cycle ushers in newness of being and well wishes for us all. 

Bright Blessings to YOU,
Priestess Najah

"Drawing Down", Myth, Mythology and Religion

"Arms outstretched wide, I open my Spirit and Being to the Goddess.  I recite "The Charge" fueled with Her presence and feel the glory of the Divine wash over and through me".  It occurs to me that as I describe my ecstatic experience, I use words describing the experience as outside myself, bringing something into myself which is not within me.  Have I done myself a disservice?

Lately my thoughts have been turning to Myths, Mythology and Religion.  I have found myself returning to the powerful PBS series, "The Power of Myth" with Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers.  How refreshing it was for a deep thinker such as myself to find the series online.  I recently reviewed the Episode 5, "Love and the Goddess" and you can view it here:

http://www.veoh.com/watch/v37616713mbPy9YfF

My altar is covered with statues of the Goddess.  She who cannot be named, She of ten thousand names and faces; Yemaya, Isis, Ishtar, Lilith, just for starters.  I call to Her, pray to Her, but am I really calling to a place deep within me?  When I meditate I close my eyes and go within.  All pointers for a making connection with a Higher Power, say to go within.   Perhaps in the ritual of "Drawing Down the Goddess", instead of "Drawing Down", we should be "Drawing Out".  If we are made of Stardust and Earth, She dwells within us.  The Moon reminds of us of what is within.   Tapping into that innate Higher Power is the hard part. Bringing it forth and acknowledging the Power is within us is even harder, all the while maintaining our humility.

And so I venture forth into the morning dawn and dark night, greeting the Sun, the Moon and Stars.   Trying hard to see inside myself, that which exists in timeless, nameless spaces and places.  Let the Moon and Stars remind me of my true Divinity, that which is within and not separate from myself.

Blessed Be and Happy New Moon,
Priestess Najah

New Moon Conjure

Last month I missed the first silver crescent of the New Moon, due to the wildfires here in Colorado.  The sky was so cloudy that I didn't get to see the New Moon.  The first time I saw the Moon was when it was half-full and I was kinda bummed that I had missed the crescent.  Perhaps too, that is also why I had such an attack of the "Dark of The Moon Blues", because I missed the Crescent last month.

Thankfully this month the sky was clear and I intentionally went outside to view the Crescent.  I was rewarded by seeing the faintest sliver, hiding behind clouds.  I then knew I could begin my New Moon work. 

This cycle I had several candles to dress and fix.  Lots of people are in need, not to name a general need for all of my fellow Coloradans and everyone affected by the Aurora Shooting.

I laid all my candles out, gathered my herbs and oils and set to dressing and fixing them.  I love doing the work.  There is something very creative and healing about doing candle work.  I also dressed and fixed candles for my altars.  I light fresh candles on my altars on the New Moon and the Full Moon, and sometimes in-between, depending upon the work needed.

Here's to a New Moon cycle.  I wish you bright blessings upon your works and may they be successful ones!

Priestess Najah

New Cycle, New Moon

It's a New Moon today and that means it's the beginning of a New Cycle, which I'm always happy about, because I always feel that I could use a new beginning!

For a while I thought I would step away from my blog.  It just seems too much at times to keep my Facebook page going, my Twitter account going and my blog going - all at the same time.  However I have become very encouraged by my stats as of late, so I thank everyone who reads my blog.  It means a lot and I appreciate you taking the time, to stop by and hang out with me.
In my heart I'm really a writer, an avid journaler, as I have journaled pretty much daily, since I was 8 years old.  Writing is in my blood, in my nature.  It keeps me sane.  So, I very much appreciate the space to write and share my feelings, knowledge and experiences. 

My thoughts today turn to spellwork and the Moon.  I always wait for the new Crescent to show, before I begin any New Moon work.  That's just me, you may choose differently.  The great thing about spellwork is that it's customizable!  One spell definitely doesn't fit all.  Of course there are guidelines and certain things you should pay attention to, depending upon the work you're doing, but most of all you need to make it your own.  One piece of valuable advice I received early on was " be sure to put you in it".  So I change words or items to suit me.  That way it's unique and mine.  Also it's a confidence builder to see you could change a little bit here and there and it's still powerful and it works.

My best thoughts today have been about belief.  One must believe in order for something to be true.  In my life I have called many things to myself.  Some good, some not so good.  But if I wanted it, I visualized it, I internalized it and then I worked on it and lo and behold it showed up. The laws of the Universe are equal. You can call good or bad things to yourself.  I truly believe in the phrase "thoughts become things".

I am looking forward to my Tarot card for this new cycle.  I just recently purchased the Universal Goddess Tarot deck and I am absolutely in love with it.  It's the most inspiring deck I've ever owned.  Below is one of my favorite cards - The Goddess Isis:

We will see what turns up, when the first beautiful sliver of  the Crescent New Moon, shows in the night sky. 

As always, I wish you Bright Blessings!